Best FPL Opening Squad Targets 2026/27: Players to Prioritize
Top opening squad targets
1. Erling Haaland (£14.7m, FWD, 6.7 xP) - The Norwegian remains the premium captaincy essential despite his hefty price tag. With 62.5% ownership already, fading him is incredibly risky. His 6.7 expected points lead all players, and Man City's attacking dominance makes him the safest route to elite points from Gameweek 1.
2. Bruno Fernandes (£10.4m, MID, 6.1 xP) - Outstanding value at 0.59 points per million. B.Fernandes offers midfield premium quality without the extreme cost, and his 6.1 xP ranks second overall. At 48% ownership, he's in nearly half of all squads for good reason - consistent returns and penalty duties make him essential.
3. Igor Thiago (£7.2m, FWD, 6.0 xP) - The standout budget striker option delivers exceptional value at 0.83 points per million. Brentford's main attacking threat matches premium players for expected points while costing half the price. At just 30.2% ownership, he could be a strong differential who frees up funds for premium picks elsewhere.
Value picks
Antoine Semenyo (£8.0m, MID, 5.5 xP) now at Man City represents the bargain of the window. A City midfielder at just £8.0m is extraordinary value - 0.69 points per million with 5.5 xP suggests he's significantly underpriced for his new environment. With 46.2% ownership, he's popular but not template. Slotting into Pep's system could see him massively outperform this price point, offering premium team access without the premium cost.
Players to avoid from the start
João Pedro (£7.4m, FWD, 5.9 xP) - Despite solid numbers and 34.8% ownership, he's £0.2m more expensive than Thiago while delivering 0.1 fewer expected points. That 0.80 points per million is good but not exceptional. Chelsea's attacking rotation risk makes him less nailed than Brentford's primary striker. The extra £0.2m is better spent elsewhere when Thiago offers superior value and likely more consistent minutes. Save the funds for your premium picks.Build this squad in the optimizer
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